Hello everyone! I am new to the BTD, about six weeks in. Starting to reseach the genotypes and was wondering if I could get some advice. I watched the youtube videos on taking measurements, fingerprints, etc. and did them at home. I know my blood type is B negative, I do not know my secretor status.

From reading the descriptions and looking at the measurements I look to be most closely resembling the Explorer type, but with perhaps some similarities as well to the Gatherer. Are there factors that would make the distinction between the two more clear? I am a white female, fair skinned with green eyes and light brown/reddish hair. I do have the difference in fingerprint patterns on my index fingers mentioned in the Explorer section, but I also do store fat easily as mentioned in the Gatherer. I am extremely sensitive to caffeine.

Being Rh- and caffeine sensitivity are very much Explorer qualities. You mentioned you store fat easily and that may be more typical of Gatherer, but any genotype can become overweight after years of improper diet and inadequate exercise.

How tall are you? I think Gatherers are more short to moderate in height and Explorers tend to be on the taller side.

I find it fascinating that you are green eyed with reddish-brown hair because that is very characteristic of Nomads, though you didn't mention thinking you were Nomad.

Your situation sounds very much like mine was a few months ago before I got a SWAMI. After reading the Genotype book and doing the measurements, the book rated me an Explorer, although I also had very strong Warrior characteristics and a couple Teacher characteristics. I tried to construct a combo diet of Explorer and Warrior, but after a while found it very frustrating and confusing since many food ratings were very opposite of each other. I am so glad I got a SWAMI (it was a Mothers Day present) and it completely takes away the confusion. It rated me a 40% Warrior even though I am clearly a mixture of 3 genotypes.

Do yourself a favor; if you can afford a SWAMI (I think it's $69.95), go for it.

ColeenISF-J, Non-Taster"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:26-27

When I read the online descriptions I thought it was Explorer or Gatherer. I went to the library and got the Genotype book today and it was then Explorer or Nomad. However, the caffeine sensitivity and the blood RH factor don't match a Nomad, I believe the book said Nomads are almost always RH positive, and I am negative. I think I'm going to save myself the headache and just get SWAMI like you and others have recommended!

Physical measurements such as leg to torso length, upper leg to lower length, finger lengths and fingerprint patterns are larger indicators of genotypes than caffeine sensitivity.

I also have the caffeine sensitivity and am RH-. My SWAMI factors those traits but I wouldn't assume SWAMI will rate you an Explorer because it didn't for me. I had typical Warrior measurements so that's why it rated me as it did. Your measurements may indicate a stronger link to the Gatherer type.

I have to say, since Warriors and Explorers don't tolerate many cheeses I was initially surprised to see my SWAMI gave me a few cheeses that I totally didn't expect to see in the Superfood category, and several were even diamond superfoods. The typical Teacher diet allows a few more cheeses than the Warrior or Explorer diets do, so it's clear that those additional cheeses in my Superfood column were due to my Teacher characteristics (which initially I thought were insignificant). I know there are others like us that are a pretty even mixture of 2 or even 3 genotypes.

I have a Nomad B+ son and his genotype diet is quite generous as opposed to his B- brothers Explorer diet. Even though it's certain your measurements don't match the Nomad, having a couple Nomad characteristics could expand your SWAMI superfood list.

ColeenISF-J, Non-Taster"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:26-27

If you're not ready to invest in SWAMI, then go with the measurements in the "Advanced Calculator" at the back of the book. The only time you should disregard those measurements is if you "strength test" really low for the Genotype you measured for, and the whole thing just feels intuitively wrong.

I personally find that I can relate to the "weaknesses" in several different genotypes. From reading the descriptions in the book, I was sure I was an Explorer! "Canary in a coal mine"- yup, that's me! But, nope, I measured out to be a Gatherer. SWAMI typed me as a Gatherer, whether it was ran as secretor or non-secretor. I was re-measured a year later (when I got my secretor test) and still wound up as Gatherer, although I now have a few "Explorer superfoods/Gatherer neutrals or black dots" as superfoods.

Another option, if you really can't seem to figure out which Genotype diet to follow, is to continue following BTD for now. Had SWAMI not come out, I would have gone back to BTD, since I did far better on the O nonnie diet than I did on the Gatherer diet.

The advanced calculator sometimes requires knowing your secretor status. On the first page of that section it says optional, and it is functionally required by the tables in the back of the book when the secretor and non-secretor give different results. That happens about a third of the time.

My weight loss goal: 220 lbs. A 6'4" dyslexic oddball: the size of a line-backer, the silhouette of Winnie-the-Pooh.

I dated a gatherer for 5 years and discovered this diet because of her digestive problems. I was trying to help her and helped myself. Since we were both non secretors most of the food values are similar. The main differences I recall were fingerprint and finger length with the explorer reverse of normal. I have the unibrow and sensitivity to cofee. She drank cofee everyday while I have never been able to stand it. I excelled at sports she avoided them. I was rh - she was +. I lost 30 lbs. in 2 months and have never put it back on. She denied that it works because she did not lose and only stayed stable and has gone back to eating normal and is getting bigger and bigger. She did not lose because she did not exercise. Sugar caused her to become loopy and is the gatherer food best avoided. I hope you figure it out!

I would IF it is possible get a swamiI am very close in all 3 genotypes- and it was first when I got my swami that it really worked out well for me.My swami reflects both some of my gatherer, explorer and my overall nomad straits

The advanced calculator sometimes requires knowing your secretor status. On the first page of that section it says optional, and it is functionally required by the tables in the back of the book when the secretor and non-secretor give different results. That happens about a third of the time.

Yeah by that table I am a Gatherer if I select non secretor, but put in secretor & it makes me an Explorer...